governance good practice guide

governance self-assessment

introduction

This section illustrates the importance of self-assessment within a governing board.

excellence begins in the boardroom

Research in different sectors has shown that the performance of a board has a direct impact on the performance of the organisation. While a high performing board may not necessarily lead to a high performing organisation, poor performance of an organisation is invariably linked to a poor performing board.

The governing board leads the organisation in terms of values, ethos and strategic approach. If it does not believe in excellence, it is unlikely that the organisation will achieve it.

Experience from Leadership Skills for Governance (LSG) workshops over the past twelve months indicates that there are many different interpretations of college governance self-assessment - what it is and how and why we do it.

There are also different views of what governing board members do in order to be involved in self-assessment - and to what degree.

This, and the variety of frameworks and approaches that are used for self-assessment, can result in a lack of focus and a disappointing lack of improvement.

The Governance Good Practice Guide (GGPG) helps to clarify some of the issues and stimulate ideas for self-assessment of further education (FE) governing boards.

why should excellence begin in the boardroom?

The college self-assessment and improvement process must be led and managed effectively - and should be an integral part of leadership, management and governance.

Systematic and robust self-assessment and improvement of their own performance by governors and managers is indicative of leadership by example and such senior post holders have a key role to play in the process throughout the college.

A learning board sits at the head of a learning organisation: ready to seek and listen to feedback from customers and staff on its performance, to reflect, assess strengths and weaknesses and develop actions for improvement.

In this way, the board models the quality improvement ethos for the organisation and leads by example, as well as setting values for the organisation to be measured by.